2.5.15 Avoca Weekly Newsletter

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02-05-15
 
AVOCA WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
A collaboration between the Avoca School District and the Avoca PTC
 
***Please note - attached in a link format are the following:***
Nutrition News - February 2015
 
February School Lunch Menus:    
AW Menu - February 2015
MM Menu - February 2015
To view this PTC Blast in your web browser, Click Here
 
AVOCA REMINDERS
 
 

 
Announcements from Dr. Jauch’s Office:

 
CALLING ALL KINDERGARTENERS!
Do you have a student who will be joining us this August for kindergarten? Please  FOLLOW THIS LINK to add your child's name to our list of potential students for 2014-2015. Our office staff will use the parent contact information to reach out to parents about upcoming events. Look for an invitation for our Kindergarten Orientation in the coming Vision. We can't wait to welcome our new viking crew!
 
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD PANCAKE BREAKFAST - Sat., Feb. 28th
Please click on the link to view the invitation flier for the Science Olympiad pancake breakfast.
Science Olympiad Pancake Breakfast - 2-28-15
 
PARCC TESTING INFORMATION NIGHT – Tonight!
Avoca West – Thursday, February 5th 7:00p.m.
Attention Avoca West Parents! Beginning in March, students in 3rd - 8th grade will take part in the PARCC assessments. PARCC replaces the ISAT assessments that have been traditionally given in March.
 
Mrs. Hutchison will host a PARCC informational meeting at Avoca West on Thursday, February 5 @ 7:00 p.m.
 
SUMMER SCHOOL REGISTRATION OPEN
As in the past, Wilmette is partnering with us to provide a wide range of educational opportunities for our students. Registration forms are available online under the Community and Parents tab.   Please register for Wilmette classes directly. Bus registration for our students, however, is completed by the Pupil Services Department at Avoca District 37 for Avoca Students.  This year we will be once again offering "Basic" reading and math classes for our students identified from criteria established at each building to help support our learners.
 
Registration for classes closes on March 6, 2015.
 
No additional bus stops will be added to the bus routes after the March 6, 2015 registration deadline.  Students registering after this date will be accommodated on existing routes.  If you have any questions regarding registration or transportation for the 2015 Summer School session, please call the Pupil Services Department at (847) 728-4142.
 
 
 
News from the Schools:
 
Avoca West and Marie Murphy Students
:  
SIX FLAGS – READ TO SUCCEED
Mrs.Geidner will once again be facilitating the Six Flags "Read to Succeed" program for all kindergarten-5th graders at Avoca West, as well as 6th graders at Marie Murphy. Each child who reads (or is read to) for 360 minutes will earn a free ticket to Six Flags! Reading logs and details are included in the attached handouts.
Completed reading logs can be returned to either ITC any time before February 20th, 2015. Please contact Mrs. Geidner with any questions! Happy reading!
Six Flags Reading Log
Six Flags Parent Letter
 
NEWS FROM AVOCA WEST:  
In case you missed Mrs. Hutchison's weekly update from last Monday, stop by the Avoca West website for news about happenings at our school.
 
SECOND GRADE MUSIC PERFORMANCE – Feb. 12th
Second Grade Performance: The second graders will present their Kodaly-inspired music performance, based on Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, on Thursday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Avoca West South Gym.  Please join us for an evening of song, story, play and a few giggles.
 
AVOCA ITC - COIN WARS & BUBBLE GUM DAY – Feb 5th-6th
Bubble Gum Day and Coin Wars wrap up on Feb. 6th! Throughout the week we have had coin wars to raise money for our therapy dogs from Adventures With Bailey. As a thank you for participating, all students will be allowed to bring gum from home, and chew it at school on Friday, February 6th!  
Remaining Coin Wars Schedule:
Thursday, 2/5: Coin=Quarters. Battle=Dogs vs. Cats.
Friday, 2/6: Coin=anything goes! (coins, bills &checks written to Adventures With Bailey)
Battle=Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox
Prizes awarded to the student & staff member wearing the craziest pink outfit on 2/6!
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR THERAPY DOGS!
 
NEWS FROM MARIE MURPHY:  
Stop by the Marie Murphy website for a weekly update from Mr. Palcer about learning and events at the middle school.
 
 
 
PTC News & Events:
 
Girls’ Night Out – Friday, Feb. 6th
Girls' Night Out is tomorrow, February 6th from 6-8pm at Avoca West. This year’s theme: BEACH PARTY with DJ games, music and food for girls in grades K-5.  We have some fun surprises in store for all. This year we are unable to accommodate walk–ins as our food has to be ordered before the event. For more info contact Kathy Monte-Christo at kmonte_christo@hotmail.com. We hope to see you there!

Girls’ and Boys’ Night Committee
Jenny Wilson, Kathy Monte-Christo, Robin Smith and Wilma Rivera
AVOCA WEST- signup 2015 girls’ night
 
PTC Monthly Meeting Wed., Feb. 11th at 7p.m. at Avoca West
Steve Wilson, Executive Director of the Wilmette Park District, will talk about the Wilmette Park District's proposed referendum for addressing lakefront renovations and improvements.  Other topics include pedestrian safety and fundraising activities. All are welcome – please join us! For more info, contact Kathy Stein at ksa68@comcast.net
 
SPRING BOX TOP COLLECTION – Fri., Feb. 20th
Keep collecting those box tops and sending them in. The next collection deadline will be February 20th. Please cut them down and check the expiration dates.  Box tops for education will not accept expired box tops. This will be the last submission for this school year.
 
SAVE THE DATE:  AVOCA FUN FAIR – Sun., Feb. 22nd
2015 Fun Fair Flyer
 
TALK TO YOUR ROOM PARENT TO SIGN UP AND VOLUNTEER AT THE FUN FAIR
Each Room Parent is putting together a list of volunteers to staff games during the Fun Fair (see this Sign Up Genius post for event details and volunteer assistance needed beyond the classroom!).  We really appreciate parents helping make this event great!
 
Please contact Matt Coatar, mattcoatar@gmail.com if you are interested in helping at any event or if you have any questions about how to get engaged!
 
FAN FEBRUARY - MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The Mask You Live In Chicago Premiere! Post Screening with Jennifer Siebel Newsome - Director/Producer/Writer, "Miss Representation" Monday, February 9 at 7 pm NTHS  Gaffney Auditorium
                                                                                                            
Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph.D - 2 Events
Born for Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered Thursday, February 12 at 7 pm NTHS Cornog Auditorium
 
Addressing Effects of Trauma in Mental Health and Education Friday, February 13 at 9:30 am NTHS Cornog Auditorium CPDUs available to educators
 

Ron Lieber, Personal finance columnist for the New York Times
The Opposite of Spoiled Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous and Smart About Money
Monday, February 23 at 7 pm North Shore Country Day School Auditorium
INFO: familyactionnetwork.net
 
AVOCA DIFFERENT LEARNERS MEETING – Sun., March 1st
Join parents of children with learning differences for support at our monthly meeting at the Northfield Library’s Northfield Community Room.  The Entrance is on Happ Rd. around the corner from library’s main entrance.  For more info and to submit any agenda items, email Louise Dechovitz at louise111@gmail.com or Helen Lucaitis at HHL@corboydemetrio.com.
 
PTC CHAIRPEOPLE & VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are seeking new Chairpersons for different events for the next school year.  Here is a current listing of all of the events.  If you want to engage a friend…and co-chair an event…let us know!  Send an email to Matt Coatar, PTC director of volunteers, for more information. We appreciate your consideration!
 
FIFTH GRADE PARTY – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
If you are interested in volunteering to help with the 5th grade party at the end of the year, please contact Demetra Siakavelis at demesiak@gmail.com or Valia Garbis at valiagarbis@gmail.com.
 
PTC Executive Committee Open Positions for 2015-16 School Year
The PTC Executive Committee has the following positions available for the 2015-16 school year:  Director of Communications, Director of Membership and Director of Community Relations.  To find out more, please contact PTC President, Kathy Stein at ksa68@comcast.net.
 
 
BOYS NIGHT THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone that attended Boys’ Night. We had a huge turn out this year and we hope that the boys had a great time! Thank you to all that helped put away the tables and chairs and helped with the clean-up. It made the clean-up so much easier with everyone pitching in; it was amazing to see everyone coming together. Thank you, all!
 
A huge thanks goes out to the fabulous volunteers that made this night such a success. Thank you so much for jumping in where you were needed.  Thanks to: Louise Dechovitz , Matt Coatar, Colleen Rosenthal, Jessica LeFebvre, John Wilson, Ann Sulkin, Val Ponczek, Jennifer Petterson, Virginia Chung,  Xiaoyan Chen, Donna Monte-Christo and Jennifer Cadet.
From the set-up to clean-up and everything in between thank you for making boys’ night go so smoothly. Could not have done this without your help!
 
A special thanks to Katie Wilson and Mollie Hersh (6th grade) for running the craft, you girls did an outstanding job!
Lastly, thank you to the Boys’ night committee for all the hard work with planning and executing this event! Thank you to Jenny Wilson, Robin Smith and Wilma Rivera. You ladies are an amazing team and I enjoyed working with you all! Kathy Monte-Christo
 
Community News
 
NEW TRIER WINTER CARNIVAL – Friday, Feb. 20th, 5:30-9p.m.
 
Come one, come all to New Trier High School's Winter Carnival, featuring tons of games, inflatables, sports, crafts, and more -- all perfect for elementary and middle school students. Admission is free, and game tickets and food can be purchased on site. The event takes up every floor of the Winnetka Campus, 385 Winnetka Ave. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.
 
NT Winter Carnival Poster 2015
 
GIRL SCOUTS
Girl Scout Troop 40423 (Brownies, Juniors) will meet Friday February 6th at 3:45pm in the Avoca West ITC. Please contact Mary Flanagan at maryoflanagan@aol.com or Alesia Wall at alesia.wall@att.net with any questions.
Girl Scout Cookies at the Fun Fair - please support the Avoca West Girl Scouts. Cookies will be available at the Fun Fair on February 22nd for $4 per box.
 
HOW TO SUBMIT AN ITEM TO THIS E-BLAST:
If you have an item you would like to submit about your PTC or Avoca community event, please limit your entry to 5-6 lines, and if longer, attach a flyer in pdf format with all your information and email to Helen Lucaitis at HHL@corboydemetrio.com.